Things that Get Under My Skin - a Response to Jaipi Sixbear's Challenge

Jaipi Sixbear issued a challenge to other writers in A Bunch of Crap I Hate About Writing and a Challenge to let go on those things that drive us nuts. She issued her challenge to "positive" writers, and I don't know if I'm in that category, but I figure there's a bunch who will welcome her challenge. Although Jaipi wrote her article mainly about writing, I'm going to add a few more for good measure. So here goes.

I Hate When My Brain Goes Into Neutral.

Like Jaipi, I love to write. I love it when a creative idea pops into my mind, and I sit down all excited about putting my thoughts into words. And then bam! I pour out all my creativity on the idea, and it ends up being five sentences long with nowhere to go. I write and erase, write and erase. I pace. I fume. Finally, I give up.

I get frustrated at myself when I agree to write an article about something that I have to research completely. For instance, when I first started with AC, I agreed to do an article on haircuts. My thinking was I knew a bit about haircuts since I've had quite a number in my day. Now, you have to understand that I'm not a stylish person, and some days I might even forget to brush my hair. By the time I finished that article, I wasn't sure I would have any hair left to brush because I felt like I was pulling it out in bunches. In my mind I know that to be successful, it is necessary to do these type articles, and I detest that.

I Hate It When People Take Me For Granted.

Working at home, many people think God has blessed you with more hours than the 24 given to everyone else, and for that reason assume you're always available. I hate when people think you don't get tired, are never too busy and think their time is more valuable.

I Hate Stupidity and Prejudice.

Nothing irritates me more than people who don't think for themselves, but rather depend on other people for their opinions. I detest that people hate for no reason other than its trendy or traditional. I hate that people judge others by shallow standards instead of trying to really get to know people. Like Jaipi, I hate snobbery whether it's aimed at me or not.

I Hate That Some People Still Think That Mississippi is a Backward State, and I Have to Defend It Constantly.

Although Mississippi may have been slower in some respects, it is a great place to live, as a lot of people have discovered. But I hate that many places I travel, people think we all still live in shacks with outdoor bathrooms. Not true. Contrary to a lot of opinions, Mississippi is not only a lush and beautiful state, but a great place to raise a family. And a well-kept secret, in respect to its number of inhabitants, Mississippi has a substantial number of very wealthy people. Always makes me want to carry about tee-shirts that say "I'm with Stupid!" to give away to these boneheads.

I Hate That People Think They Can Park Anywhere Anytime.

Even though I'm highly capable of walking from anywhere in a parking lot to the front door of a business, I hate walking around some bozo's car parked in a fire lane or a loading zone. I hate that some people think the rules apply to everyone but them. And worse, are those people who pull beside someone in the street and start talking, all the while blocking traffic. I hate that self-centered people have no respect for me or anyone else.

I Hate That I Let People Talk Me Into Doing Things I Don't Want to Do or Go Places I Don't Want to Go.

Nothing irritates me more than those times I allow myself to be conned into doing something I don't want to do with people I don't care to be around. And if they keep me waiting, I'm fit to be tied. Time never drags as much as when I'm sitting through a dinner or such with people who bore me to tears. I get angry at myself and let myself be in a bad mood for days.

I Hate When People Take A Good Product and Screw Around With It.

Why put pretzels in M&M's? What will people call them, P&M's or M&P's or maybe metzels? If I want pretzels, then I eat pretzels. If I want chocolate on them, I buy them with chocolate on them. I hate that corporations think we're so stupid that we'll buy anything if they change it. How hard up could M&M's be anyway? I figure about as hard up as Coke was when they had to revert back to Classic Coke.

Whew! I think Jaipi was right because it does feel good to rant about some of my irritations. The only problem is now I feel a strong temptation to make this a series.